(Linda Andersson is an
automotive designer currently working with the Jaguar Advanced
Design Team.)

(text courtesy Linda
Andersson) "I believe that true customizers will continue
turning the common into something special, the mass produced into
something unique"

There is a need for a
provocative and rebellious concept, 'a rebel against the blank car'
aiming to strengthen the interactive relationship between man and
car, to show a new direction on and off the road. A car with a
personal 'face', which strives to fulfill the user's yearning for
individuality.
Yet also expresses awareness and skepticism towards the way the car
industry and mass media take market strategies and try to control
people's minds by creating common identities.

The background

People’s aspiration for
cars and the secret relationships people have with their cars has
always fascinated me.

The personalized driving
experience is, however, becoming eroded by the progressive
automation of cars which often leads to the ‘driver’ becoming almost
another ‘passenger’ going from A to B.
The exterior is often what initially excites you or what others
judge you upon, but the interior of your car is just for you and
this cocoon should be emotive enough to express and fulfil your
needs and desires. The importance of the social interaction between
man and car needs to be re-addressed by the designs of cars as a
whole, we need to rediscover our love affair with the motorcar and
bring back the passion into this relationship.

In the future, we need
to concentrate on the journey and not just the destination.

The design

The exterior design of
this concept is an exploration of form. The research pointed out
that people wanted something unique and different from other cars on
the road. The rebellious and provocative aspect also seems to be the
common theme among car custom cultures. By analyse basic forms,
aiming to achieve a rebellious form, the tube came to be the most
interesting object. With one end round and soft transforming into a
flat sharp end, it became the base for the exterior with it’s
contrast in each ends. The influence of the gun as a provocative
object is shown in the choice of materials, colours and textures by
contrasting the gunmetal ‘pipe’ shaped front part with a rubber-matt
black rear.

The interior design is based upon interviews regarding people’s
aspiration for cars and aims to emphasize on the driver’s contact
with the car, “It’s not all about what it looks like; it’s more
about what it feels like”. Because of that the idea was to focus on
those objects in the car that the driver are in physical contact
with, such as steering wheel, seat and gear stick. The choice of
material was also made to achieve maximal comfort and contact with
the car, and by that fulfil the users needs, aspiration and
lifestyles.